Staging time at the airport was 9:45 a.m. Ector and his wife, Yolanda, came to the house to ride with me to the airport. This was their first PGR Mission ride. Here they are in my driveway as we get ready to head out.
We pull out and head out to the Freeway. Here they are behind me on Barnett Rd.
We make it to the Kell Freeway (US82) and head East. Here are Ector & Yolanda on their new Harley
Another shot of Ector & Yolanda as we head down the Kell Freeway to I-44.
As we head up the Flyover, they are lookin' good.
We reach the top of the overpass and start down the other side to join up with US287 and then I-44 about 1/4 mile further down the road.
We get to the airport and park the bikes. Here are Jimmy & Mike who were already there. Both are members of the Patriot Guard Riders. If you are curious as to what we do or want to join the PGR (it's FREE) check out this link: http://www.patriotguard.org/
This is Randall. He is a good friend and rides with us quite a bit. We both are members of the Red River Chapter of H.O.G here in Wichita Falls Texas for more on our chapter of H.O.G., see this link: http://www.redriverharley-davidson.com/ click on the H.O.G. link and it will take you to the local site.
Bud was also there (2nd from left) and was visiting with other PGR members
The bikes that were there when we arrived at Wichita Falls Municipal Airport. For more on the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport see: www.wichita-falls.com/airports.municipal.php Also, co-located with Sheppard AFB: see this link for info on Sheppard AFB: http://www.sheppard.af.mil/
We were close to the base of the National Weather Service radar, so I went over and took a picture looking up at the radar.
Working the intersection and directing the bikes where to park, are Ted, a North Texas PGR Ride Captain and Laura, who is married to another North Texas Ride Captain, Tex.
Looking back at the bikes that have arrived so far
Another rider arrives driving a Harley Ultra Classic,which is a 105th Anniversary Edition. An obvious hint is the copper/black paint job..
More of the bikes. The PGR members bikes usually have a yellow & blue windshield banner or the triangular yellow/gold decals
This is Matt. He worked with my son-in-law, Matt and he bought my Vulcan, which is the blue/silver bike parked next to him. That Vulcan is a great bike and runs just as good as any of the larger bikes there. I enjoyed it the two years I owned it.. He is really enjoying it also and has put almost 8,000 miles on it in the last couple of months
This is Angela. She drives a big yellow trike and has 3 big flags mounted on the rear of the trike.. She is a sweetheart, and she and her husband, Nubbin, are good friends and very enjoyable to be around. Nubbin had to work today and couldn't make it..
This is Sherrie, Joe's wife. They are also PGR members and Joe is a North Texas PGR Ride Captain. Behind her are Bud, Jimmy and Randall
Russ arrives and he has this banner on his windshield. I asked him when he got this and he said he's had it quite awhile. Can't believe I didn't notice this one before.
This is Jimmy M, Randall and Jimmie S. as we wait for the plane to arrive. It was supposed to have arrived at 10:11 a.m., but it was behind schedule and was now scheduled to land about 11:00 a.m.
This is Larry. Larry is a member of the Green Knights Chapter 54 which is out at Shepard AFB and is the local chapter here in North Texas. For more info on the Green Knights and Green Knights Chapter 54, check out these links: http://www.texasgreenknights.org/ and www.texasgreenknights.og/gk54
This is Jimmy and me out at Wichita Falls Texas Municipal Airport. Russ had called me earlier and said he was wearing his colors. So, I wore mine. Russ, Bud and me are members of the Blue Knights TX XX. For more info on our Chapter, TX XX, see the following link: http://www.blueknightstxxx.com/
The bikes are starting to add up and make an impressive site.
me and Laura. Laura rode up from Bowie Texas and is a member of C.M.A. chapter out of Nocona Texas which is called, the Chisholm Trail Riders. The local C.M.A. Chapter here is called Glory bound. see this link for Glory Bound: www.cmascr4.org/txw/glorybound ; and this link for the Chisholm Trail Riders: www.cmascr4.org/txn/chisholmtrailriders
Not sure who this is, but the large triangular PGR patch is outlawed in the state of Oklahoma
Laura, Yolanda and Ector are having a good talk as we wait for the plane to arrive
Yoland & Ector at the Wichita Falls Texas Municipal Airport. Yolanda had a smile 0n her face when we met for breakfast, when we got to my place so I could get my Harley, all the way to the airport and then to the funeral home and was still smiling after lunch when she and Ector left for home. It was great because her smile was infectious and she got almost everyone smiling..
This is Gary, flanked by Laura and Ted.
Bud checking things out as Ted and Barbara (North Texas PGR Ride Captain) head to the terminal to get an update on the ETA of the plane..
Russ arrives , parks his Harley Ultra Classic Limited Edition, and heads across the street to the shade.
The bikes in the escort today. The big yellow trike with the three big flags on back, belongs to Angela. Her husband, Nubbin, has an OD green Harley trike that he has three big flags mounted on also
Caught Ted checking in with his wife, Inez. I love Ted & Inez just like they were blood relatives. I take a lot of pictures of Ted and then send them to his daughter, Vickie, that lives in Ft. Collins Colorado. She has a GREAT motorcycle blog called "Our Harley Days". Check it out at the following link and tell her John told you about her. http://www.ourharleydays.blogspot.com/
The news folks were out there at the airport, doing a story on the arrival of PFC Maldonado and the escort to the Funeral home. This is Eddie, camera man for KFDX Channel 3 and Ann, news reporter and local TV personality for KFDX Channel 3. Ann and my son went to college together. For more on KFDX, see this link: http://www.texomashomepage.com/ 
This is Ted, Laura & Tex. In the post today, you can tell the PGR ride captains by the maroon ball cap or maroon bandanna. You can't buy the maroon ball caps as they are presented to the new Ride Captains by the State Ride Captains...
Left to right: Eddie, Ted, Laura, Tex and Ann
This is the Airport Liason person, Sarah. She came out to confirm some info with the Ride Captains and to see if we needed anything.
In addition to the big bikes and cruisers, the sportbikes were in attendance. They were a Club but I didn't get the name..Sorry guys...
Joe goes over and checks something on his Harley
This is Ted, Kevin, Joe and Sherrie. All are PGR members. Joe is a former co-worker and lives right behing me. Great folks and good friends. Kevin is also a good friend and I think his wife, Deborah, was working today...
At a lot of these events and other rides and runs, war stories, tall tales and fairy tales are fairly common. To combat this, Niki has the cure.. This is Niki and her husband, Flip. Niki is wearing the cure. Click on the picture to see what it is. LOL
This is Niki and Flip. They are great people and I am proud to call them friends. They both ride their own Harley's too. They are also members of the local C.M.A. Chapter, Glory Bound
This is Laura and "Grandpa". Grandma wasn't riding with him today. But Laura and he were killing time talking until the plane arrived
This is Ted and Katie. Katie is an RN and works at an area hospital and she rides with us whenever she gets the chance.
This is Dusty and Amy. They are newly weds, and their two week anniversary was 8-28-10. Congratulations to you both. They are both C.M.A. members and we go to the Broken Chains Freedom Church (in Wichita Falls Texas) together with the majority of the folks that were riding today.
Ector & Yolanda enjoying the goings on in the comfort of the shade.
This is Jimmy, me and WCSO Deputy Eddie Nahquaddy. Eddie & I worked together at the WFPD and we both retired. Eddie then went and got a job with the WCSO
Jimmy, Deputy Nahquaddy and Bud. Bud is a retired WCSO Sgt, and a member of the Blue Knights TX XX
Katie and Laura visiting as we wait on the plane to land
Joe's Harleywith the big flags on the back
Not real sure who was riding this Vulcan, but it was definitely a PGR members bike..
Laura takes a break and rests on her bike. Laura nick named her bike "Sapphire" and she will tell you, she loves her Sapphire..
Russ & Linda. Russ & I have been friends since 1977 and he is a Road Captain/Director of the Blue Knights TX XX. I am the current President of the Blue Knights TX XX. At least until November when we have our elections.
The riders were taking full advantage of the available shade.
Russ and Linda go to their bike to get something out of their tour pak as Mike looks on. Mike is Barbara's Husband and he also is a North Texas PGR Ride Captain
Jimmy and Larry talk as Larry sits on his Harley...
We knew the time was getting close because Russ got his commo ready.
This is Barbara, Mike's wife. The news media , KFDX News Channel 3, interviewed them about today's escort
This is Linda, who also is always smiling. We go way back also.. Back to when she started dating Russ..
This is Kevin (levi vest) walking to his bike as Flip starts to his bike, as we are told to mount up and get ready to go...
Everyone gets ready to go and start to line up.
This is Mike ready to head out
With Niki in front of him, Flip turns around to check the rest of the riders.
We pull out and head down Armstrong Rd. That is Dusty and Amy behind me to the right
We turn onto Airport Dr and head West. To my right is Mike. To my left, with the ape hangers, is Flip
We then turn South and head down I-44 to the Holliday St. exit. Mike to the right and Flip is to my front left
The folks behind me as we head down I-44. Amy & Dusty are closest to me
We get to Owens & Brumley Funeral Home. Again, we did not take pictures as the Army Honor Guard unloaded the flag draped coffin, or any of those ceremonys, as we honored the family's request that no pictures be taken of the family, family vehicles or hearse. After the coffin was taken inside Owens & Brumley Funeral Home, we were released. This is Mike as he plans to head out
We decided to go and eat at the Branding Iron on East Scott. Here are Inez & Ted and Ector & Yolanda in the parking lot of Owen's & Brumley Funeral home.. For more info on the funeral home, see: http://www.owensbrumley.com/ 
We get to the Branding Iron BBQ on East Scott. Here is Joe securing his bike..
The last picture from today's PGR Mission is of Russ's Harley Ultra Classic Limited Edition and my Harley Heritage Softail parked out front of the Branding IronIt was good to see everyone and meet the new folks. Thanks again to Niki for putting the PGR Mission out in Church and a big thank you to all the C.M.A members from the Glory Bound Chapter and the Chisholm Trail Riders Chapter from Nocona & Bowie, Green Knights Chapter 54, Blue Knights TX XX, the Sportbike guys & gals and any other groups, organizations and clubs that I did not get the names of, for coming out and joining us in Honoring this fallen American hero and supporting the family in their time of mourning. I hope to see many of them again at the funeral home on Sunday at 5 P.M. for the flagline during the Visitation and Rosary.
Scroll down for more rides, events and runs and remember to click on the " OLDER POSTS" link at the bottom of each page or directly under the last post on the page.
You can access NORTH TEXAS BIKERS (I), NORTH TEXAS BIKERS II AND NORTH TEXAS BIKERS III at the following links: (I) http://www.jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/ ;
Continue to pray for all of our troops both in and out of Harm's Way.
Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel and most important of all......................RIDE SAFE ............................JOHN
